THE TRARALGON & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC

EXTRACTS FROM THE TRARALGON "JOURNAL" 1974
Taken by John W. Davidson

January 1974
Reported that Mr. Roy W. Hastings died in December 1973, aged 74, after living in Traralgon for 42 years and conducted a funeral business for 39 years.
Five residents won prizes prior to Christmas in the Housing Commission Garden Competition. They were Mrs.A.Mortimer, Mrs.R.A.Clarke, Mrs.B.H.Bonnor, Mrs.R.Ritchie and Mrs.J.Sneddon. .
Miss Maureen Ruane, of Shakespeare Street, won her 6th beauty quest when she became Miss Inverloch 1974 at the annual New Year's carnival.
lst Traralgon scouts, Ken Parker, Alistair Cameron and Peter Becker attended 10th annual Australian Jamboree held at Woodhouse, outside Adelaide.
Bulldozers cleared site where old fire station used to be, on corner of Franklin and Argyle Sts., to make a car park for long vehicles and caravans. Council purchased the "Pizza Hut" next to Albroy's Service Station, to re-site it on the parking lot for use as a Tourist information Centre which was permanently manned by Mr. Don Dunbar.
Mr. Ian Christie, son of Bruce Christie, Glengarry, was Dux of the Traralgon High School.
"George's" fish and chip shop in Church St, was gutted by fire.
Country Roads Board commenced the second section of the double lane between Traralgon and Morwell.
St. Michael's Catholic Church Presbytery was demolished, it was built in 1925.
300 car-loads of people headed to Inverloch for annual A.P.M. picnic, with over 1,000 children participating in the sports.

February 1974

A modern single-storey Dental Surgery, built on corner of Hotham and Deakin Sts., completed by Mr. Norm. Neilson, builder.
Traralgon held carnival of sports, run by Lions Club, with professional footrunning and amateur and professional cycling.
Girl Guides of lst Traralgon celebrated 50 years after first meeting held in St. James' Hall by Rev. Blundell, to start a Guide unit and Lyn Dyson and Sue Farmer were both presented with their Queen's Guide badge, to be presented later with Certificates at Government House.
Mr. J.R.Pollock was appointed Gippsland Manager of A.P.M. Forests and succeeded Mr.M.Goudie. A.P.M. Forests planted their 100,000,000th tree.

March 1974

Mr. Tony Nolan and wife, Amira, became new Managers of Royal Exchange Motor Inn.
Back-to-Glengarry held; 400 people returned to celebrate at Glengarry west. Following lunch, Mr. Derek Amos, M.L.A., planted a tree in memory of Soldier Settlers.
Traralgon celebrated 100 years of Cricket and reported that on Good Friday, 1874, 18 members travelled to South Gippsland in a 4-horse coach, 2 double-seated buggies and a jinker. They played their first game at Bruthen Creek. Another hour's run took the team to Alberton where they stayed overnight at the "Victoria Hotel" erected by Mr.I.Slater, a well-known resident and coach proprietor in Toongabbie. Traralgon won the game the next day.
Mr. Greg Sampson was appointed Latrobe Valley Water & Sewerage Board's works Engineer,  replacing Mr. G. Patten.
The first-ever Rotoract Conference in Rotary District 282 was held at Glenview Park, opened by Federal member for Gippsland; Mr. Peter Nixon, and attended by 130 people.
The same weekend, the Premier, Mr.R.J.Hamer, officially opened the Rotary International District 282 Conference in the City Hall.
About 80 people went on the Traralgon Historical Society's excursion to Carrajung and Blackwarry, led by Mr. D. Daniels and his daughter, Mrs. Missen, of Yarram.
600 children from St. Michael's School turned out to watch Monsignor Alman turn the first sod of the new Kay Street Presbytery.
Damien Morrissey, from St. Paul's College, was chosen as Lions "Youth of the Year".

April 1974.
Pyneboard's new $3 million Fineboard plant at Rosedale was operationally tested for the first tine.

May 1974

The Department of State Development & Decentralisation set up a Latrobe Valley office in the new LaTrobe Permanent Building Society building in Hotham Street.
Construction of Margery Cole Hostel commenced, at a cost of $300,000; it will cater for 25 aged residents.

June 1974
Jim and Carmel Little took over Pendlebury's shop in Seymour Street.
Scouts celebrated 50 years of scouting at Newman Park.
Last steam train excursion to Mirboo North when the line closed on 30th.
Kathleen M. Teychenne was awarded. the British Empire Medal.
Marsh & Co., family butchers, leased their business to Jack Adams. The late George Marsh purchased the business in 1890 from Mr.Redpath near where Hades Hot Bread shop is. He later bought premises in Franklin St. from the late Mr. J.W.Grubb. When he died, his sons, Roy, Arthur and Fred, took over.
George Galder, railway guard, retired after 28 years here.

July 1974

Mr. Chris O'Dell replaced Mr. Peter Phillips as President of Rotaract.
Jill Crawford became Young Farmers' Club's first female President.
After 10 years as Secretary of the Traralgon Historical Society, Mrs. Valma Plant was awarded Life Membership.

August 1974

Mr. John Dudley, from Cessnock, NSW, was appointed Managing Editor of the Traralgon "Journal".
Cr. G.H. (Paddy) Frankland was elected City Mayor, replacing Cr. Bert Watkins

September 1974
Traralgon cyclist, Graham Rowley, won the Australian Professional Road Cycling Championship, near Geelong.
Cr. Harry Saunders was re-elected Shire President, for his 7th term.
A presentation was made to Jack Gilmour when he was re-elected for his 26th year as Secretary of the Traralgon branch of the Victorian Farmers Union since it commenced in July 1948.
Mrs. Jean Court became new Guide's District Commissioner.
Leanne Oates, of Kildare College, won the Traralgon Lions Club "Girl of the year".
St. Michael's new Presbytery was officially blessed and opened by Bishop A.F. Fox of Sale.

October 1974
Mr. Bill Waldron was installed as State Deputy Grand Master of Manchester Unity, in Melbourne.
Roland Hill wrote "Recollections of Traralgon over past 50 years".
Mr. Don Dunbar was awarded the M.B.E.
Traralgon City Bandsmen wore their new uniforms (chocolate brown jackets) when they led the Traralgon Fire Brigade to its Church Parade at the Methodist Church.
Sheryl Robertson became Glengarry's second Queens Guide, the first for 15 years.
Branch of the Association of Technical Surveyors formed in Gippsland when it met at the Traralgon City Council Chambers.
History recalled that Mr. Oswald Marriage opened the first General Store in Traralgon on corner of Franklin and Argyle Sts. on 31st October, 1874. He remained in Rosedale and employed Mr. Jackson Orr to manage the business.
Traralgon held a Centenary celebration and shops displayed historical window attractions. On Friday evening, 1st November, a parade of vintage cars moved through the streets, led by the City Band.

November1974

Traralgon formed a "Consumers' Association" and drew up a Constitution; elected were Mrs. I.McGloin, President, Mrs H. Sutton, Vice-President, Mr.D. Marks, Secretary; Asst. Secretary Mrs. N. Ramsay; Treasurer, Mrs. L.M.Dargie; Publicity Officer, Mrs. D. Harrup, and Complaints Officer Mr.P. Apostoleris.
Managing Director Mr. Colin Wigg set up a new estate agency in Seymour St, and left business in charge of his brother Merv. and Graeme Parker who had both previously worked for Rex Jakobi.
Traralgon Branch of the C.W.A. celebrated 45 years, having come a long way since Mrs.Whittaker, of Loy Yang, drove Mrs. Alf Brereton around in a horse & jinker for members when it was formed 29th November 1929. First President: Mrs.Brereton; Vice Presidents Mrs. F. Conchie, and Mrs.A.Brown; Secretary Mrs.Keating; Treasurer Mrs. R. Morley.
Maguire Court Infant Welfare Centre closed down.
Town Clerk Mr.Ken Saunders informed the public that Traralgon City Council is taking over the City garbage collection.
State Parliament allowed Council Rates concession for pensioners.
86th Annual Agricultural Show declared best ever with $3,675 gate. A presentation ceremony was held for Mr. Jim Dunbar being president for 25 years. In 1885 the Society was formed and land provided for use by the Society and for gentlemen of the village to play cricket.

December 1974 .

Gippsland Regional Tourist Authority formed, with Mr. Don Dunbar as acting Secretary
Lions Club Mr. Arch Graham was presented with Australian Award 1973/74 Certificate for "100% Award" for past year as Governor of District. 201.M. with 1,700 members.
Descendants of late Mr. & Mrs A.P. Miles held family re-union at Traralgon South prior to S.E.C. taking over the land, after 50 years there.
More than 300 senior citizens packed into the Technical School Hall, as guests of the Lions, for the first Christmas Party held there.
Mr. Stuart Thompson retired after 44 years teaching and principal of Liddiard Road Primary School for 8 years.
Wirilda Park Association received a grant of $70,000 to establish its environmental park near Traralgon, and will be used to purchase 232 acres of land at the Tyers River Bridge to add to the 21,000 acres already retained in its natural state.
Deputy Principal of Grey Street School, Mr. Alan Chambers, was transferred to Moe, after 7 years here.
New Casualty Block officially opened at Central Gippsland Hospital, replacing the one in use since the hospital opened in 1956.
History was recorded "for end of an era" when Mr. W.A. (Bert) Thompson retired after 62 years as a printer, 50 of them in Traralgon, where he was Editor for 26 years and final 12 years a Proprietor of the "Latrobe Valley Printers". He was first employed at "The Journal" office, which stood where Riggall's drapery store is today (1974) then edited by late Ted Barbor who, along with the late Bert Chapple, was co-owner. Bert sold the "L.V. Printers" printery to new owners Trevor Howe and Michael O'Sullivan.

 

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